Fourth quarter 2010 (2010:4) tax revenues for state and local governments, as compared with fourth quarter 2009 (2009:4), were up 2.2 percent, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of positive growth. Tax revenue for the quarter totaled $380.3 billion, compared with $372.2 billion reported for fourth quarter 2009.

Of the largest tax categories; general sales tax, individual income tax, and corporate income tax showed positive growth, while property tax collections declined for the first time since the first quarter of 2010.

Taxes by Category

Property Tax

Total property tax revenue was $177.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 2.9 percent from $182.5 billion in 2009:4. The amount of property tax revenue collected from local governments was $173.4 billion. The state-collected portion of property tax revenue decreased 1.1 percent to $3.7 billion, down from $3.8 billion in 2009:4.

Individual Income Tax Individual income tax growth was positive for the fourth consecutive quarter and increased 10.1 percent to $65.9 billion compared with $59.9 billion in 2009:4. For the calendar year 2010, income tax increased
4.8 percent, up to $260.8 billion from $248.9 billion in 2009.

General Sales Tax

General sales tax revenue was up 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter. The amount collected in 2010:4 increased to $73.8 billion from $70.1 billion in 2009:4. For the calendar year 2010, general sales tax revenues
increased 3.8 percent to $292.9 billion, up from $282.1 billion in 2009.

Corporate Income Tax

Corporate income tax increased for the first time since 2009:1, up 14.3 percent after a decline in 9 out of the past 12 quarters. Fourth quarter revenue was $10.3 billion, up from $9 billion in 2009:4. Despite the growth in 2010:4, compared with 2009:4 the overall amount of corporate income tax collected in calendar year 2010 dropped 4.9 percent from $47.9 billion in 2009 to $45.5 billion.

Other Taxes

Severance taxes collected in the fourth quarter totaled $2.9 billion, up 11.5 percent from the fourth quarter 2009. Motor fuels sales tax revenue was up 8.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009. Tobacco sales tax revenue was up 3.2 percent and alcoholic beverage sales tax revenue was up 4.7 percent when compared with the fourth quarter 2009. Documentary and stock transfer taxes collected in the fourth quarter totaled $1.4 billion, up 23.2 percent from the same quarter prior year.